A new interview is posted over at Screen Rant where Mary talks everything about The Thing and how it differs from Scott Pilgrim Vs the World, her flame-thrower training and more. As always, click the link to read the full interview, and below are some excerpts.

Did Kurt Russell’s performance in the 1982 film inform your performance at all?

“Not really, no. When I first signed onto it I was like ‘okay, I need to make this character funny or something, right, because it’s like MacReady.’ And then I was finally just like, ‘no, it’s not MacReady.’ I need to just not think about that, it’s nothing like MacReady. And just because she’s sort of the lead of this film, doesn’t mean she has to have the same personality traits as the lead of the Carpenter film.”

Is it fun to get your inner Ripley on?

“Yeah, oh definitely. I mean Ripley, she’s just one of the best examples, especially in the first ‘Alien.’ Because she kind of ends up becoming more and more bad ass. But in the first one she really is just a smart woman who knows what’s going on and who’s trying to convince everyone else that there’s something bad happening. She responds in a way that women would aspire to. She’s someone strong, independent and really put together. So I think that in that sense, Kate is similar. I definitely didn’t try to copy her performance in any way, but she is such an iconic character that you can’t help but have it in the back of your mind.”

Did this feel like more of a take charge role than your characters in Scott Pilgrim or Live Free or Die Hard?

“I guess it is – just in a different way, you know? In ‘Scott Pilgrim,’ she has more of a ‘doesn’t-give-a-shit’ type attitude. So I guess she’s take charge, but really just for herself, you know? And I think Kate is much more empathetic. She’s caring, and strong, and trying to survive but also trying to help as many people as she possibly can. I think for me, she’s a more easily relatable character than a lot of other characters I’ve played. She was a lot of fun.”

“It was super refreshing for me when I read it. I was like, ‘wow, there’s like no romantic sub-plot, there’s no shower scene, there’s nothing like that.’ I kept waiting for something to happen. Like at the end, she suddenly walks in undressing or something, and it just never occurred. And it was like, ‘wow, it’s not coming at it from that point of view. It’s just these people in this situation trying to fight for their lives, and the woman is no different than the men.’ That was really refreshing for me, and really refreshing to play, as well.”

Simply gorgeous and absolutely stunning! Check out these amazing photos looking all high fashion and glam in the latest issue of Filler magazine! Cannot get over the looks she’s done & her puppy Ambrosius makes her modelling debut! See all the pics in the gallery which include scans & outtakes!

Filler Outtakes:

Also, here’s some of the interview. Full interview can be read at the link posted.

I imagine it must be difficult for any actor to star in a remake or prequel of a popular film, but especially so in the “horror” genre where the fans are so passionate about the genre and its cult classics. Did you feel the weight of fans’ expectations on your shoulders while working on The Thing?
As a fan of the Carpenter version myself, I was actually hesitant to take this on because I absolutely did not want to tarnish the legacy of that film in any way. So I completely understand how many fans feel. What drew me to this was the intelligence of the script and the role, as well as the passion of everyone involved. I really got the sense that the filmmakers wanted to respectful and make something great. And I feel that’s exactly what they’ve done. They made something that can appeal to fans of the ’82 film, but also bring something new and excited to a generation who may never have otherwise heard of it.

Your character, Kate Lloyd, is very different from those we know from Carpenter’s film — you might even say she’s unique to the horror genre itself, would you agree?
When I read the script, I was so please with the way the lead female role had been handled. She wasn’t a tough masculine tomboy, she wasn’t somebody’s love interest — she was an intelligent and strong, but in a very realistic way.

Must have invigorating to play that kind of role?
I was so happy to play an action heroine who didn’t have superpowers, who wasn’t perfect looking, who wasn’t in spandex or a ripped tank top — just a woman put in a dire situation trying to find the strength to make it to the next day. It was my hope to put a character on screen who was just a real woman, and one that both men and women could root for and respect.

In a new interview with USA Today while promoting The Thing, Mary revealed that her take on Mary Todd Lincoln in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter will be feisty and sassy.

“She can definitely kick a little ass,” Winstead said of Mary Todd Lincoln while promoting her new movie, The Thing(opening Friday).

While not exactly historically accurate, Vampire Hunter promises to be a lot of fun. Abraham Lincoln (played by Benjamin Walker) does the bulk of the First Family’s vampire-slaying in the fictional account of the 16th President’s life. But Mary Todd Lincoln does “get involved,” says Winstead.

“(Abraham Lincoln) tries to keep this all from the family,” she says. “But she does get involved. I won’t say how. I don’t want to give it away.”

“In my research of her I really like her,” says Winstead. “There’s a lot of different takes on her. We focused on the more likable aspects of her personality, especially in the younger years. As she got older she was dealing with the death of her children and her husband and she lost it a little bit,” Winstead adds. “That’s to be expected.”

Check out this new video of Mary telling us a funny joke and a new outtake for Esquire.com in the gallery. She also opens up about being accident prone.

About the jokester:

For someone who grew up as an aspiring ballerina (too tall, in the end), 26-year-old actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead is accident-prone. Take, for instance, her recent bike ride: “I think I’m better at it than I am,” she says. “I was going downhill really fast and got caught on a fence with my handlebars, went flying off, and landed on my nose on the concrete.” Or that time she was stunt training for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and tore the dura around her spine. (It holds your spinal fluid.) Or that time she was learning how to use a flamethrower for her upcoming role in The Thing (out October 14) and slipped in a pool of gasoline. “I think the stunt guys actually became worried about how cool I was about [using] it.” We can only hope her next movie will involve standing still, lots of pillows, and a stunt double.

I love this photo. Check out this new pic of Mary featured in the LA Times’ Hero Complex where she talks about The Thing. Here’s some of the excerpts:

For actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead, the scariest part about starring in a new prequel to the film, also called “The Thing” and opening Friday, was the risk of not living up to a cult favorite.

“I think there was some pressure going into it knowing that we were going to be watched very closely and that if we didn’t do it justice, there was going to be a lot of anger,” Winstead said in Los Angeles.

“I didn’t open the script and see a bunch of retreads of the same characters that are in the first film, who are so beloved,” said Winstead, a self-described fan of Carpenter’s film, which was itself inspired by 1951?s “The Thing From Another World.” “I saw a totally new story with new characters and new dynamics.”

“I kind of accepted the fact that she’s not funny,” Winstead said of Kate, for whom she drew inspiration from her oldest sister, a neurologist. “She’s very serious.… She’s very focused, she’s very intelligent.”

And here’s what she says regarding her career beyond “Smashed”:

After that, it’s anyone’s guess what the Los Angeles-based actress will tackle, which suits her just fine.

“Whatever your last film was is usually how people see you,” Winstead said. “I try with every film to go in the opposite direction … so that nobody will ever be able to figure out exactly what I am.”

Click on the pic below or visit the gallery to see the new photo and be sure to click the link above to read the full interview!

Welcome to MaryEWinstead.net, your ultimate fan site for actress/singer Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Known for her roles in Final Destination 3, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, 10 Cloverfield Lane, and CBS's BrainDead, she can also be seen in the third season of FX's Fargo as Nikki Swango and previously, in PBS' Mercy Street. She is also the lead singer of Got A Girl, a band she formed with Dan the Automator. Please enjoy your visit to our site and be sure to check out the gallery!